What is the difference between wara' (scrupulousness) and zuhd (asceticism)
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : Peace be upon you. And upon you be peace. How are you, Honorable Shaykh? Welcome. May Allah honor you and bless you. I have two questions, if you please. Go ahead. The difference between wara' (scrupulousness) and zuhd (asceticism), and is there a wara' (scrupulousness) that is praiseworthy and one that is blameworthy? In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds. May Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and those who follow them in excellence until the Day of Judgment.
The Shaykh : The difference between wara' (scrupulousness) and zuhd (asceticism) is that zuhd (asceticism) is more complete, because zuhd (asceticism) is leaving what does not benefit in the Hereafter, while wara' (scrupulousness) is leaving what harms in the Hereafter.
The questioner : Yes, is there a praiseworthy one and a blameworthy one?
The Shaykh : Zuhd (asceticism) is better. As for wara' (scrupulousness), yes, there is a blameworthy wara' (scrupulousness), which is when a person becomes scrupulous about what Allah has made lawful for him, seeking to draw near to Allah by doing so.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Because drawing near to Allah the Exalted by means of matters that Allah has not prescribed is among the blameworthy, innovated matters.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : If a person were to become scrupulous about eating watermelon, for example, seeking to draw near to Allah the Exalted, we would say that this wara' (scrupulousness) is blameworthy because it is drawing near to Allah by means of what Allah has not prescribed.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : I have finished now.
The questioner : Yes, Shaykh, if you please, regarding...
The Shaykh : New clothes. Seeking to draw near to Allah the Glorious and Exalted, we would say this is a blameworthy wara' (scrupulousness). Because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)...
The questioner : (peace and blessings be upon him).
The Shaykh : When arrogance was mentioned, they said: O Messenger of Allah...
The questioner : (peace and blessings be upon him).
The Shaykh : One of us loves for his garment to be beautiful and his sandal to be beautiful.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Indeed, Allah is beautiful and loves beauty.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Meaning, He loves adornment.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And on this basis, we say that wearing new, washed, clean clothes...
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : is among what Allah the Glorious and Exalted loves. So if a person were to leave this and only wear a torn...
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : or dirty garment, seeking to draw near to Allah by doing so, we would say this is a blameworthy wara' (scrupulousness).
The presenter : Good. May Allah bless you, Honorable Shaykh.
The Shaykh : And you.
The Shaykh : The difference between wara' (scrupulousness) and zuhd (asceticism) is that zuhd (asceticism) is more complete, because zuhd (asceticism) is leaving what does not benefit in the Hereafter, while wara' (scrupulousness) is leaving what harms in the Hereafter.
The questioner : Yes, is there a praiseworthy one and a blameworthy one?
The Shaykh : Zuhd (asceticism) is better. As for wara' (scrupulousness), yes, there is a blameworthy wara' (scrupulousness), which is when a person becomes scrupulous about what Allah has made lawful for him, seeking to draw near to Allah by doing so.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Because drawing near to Allah the Exalted by means of matters that Allah has not prescribed is among the blameworthy, innovated matters.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : If a person were to become scrupulous about eating watermelon, for example, seeking to draw near to Allah the Exalted, we would say that this wara' (scrupulousness) is blameworthy because it is drawing near to Allah by means of what Allah has not prescribed.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : I have finished now.
The questioner : Yes, Shaykh, if you please, regarding...
The Shaykh : New clothes. Seeking to draw near to Allah the Glorious and Exalted, we would say this is a blameworthy wara' (scrupulousness). Because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)...
The questioner : (peace and blessings be upon him).
The Shaykh : When arrogance was mentioned, they said: O Messenger of Allah...
The questioner : (peace and blessings be upon him).
The Shaykh : One of us loves for his garment to be beautiful and his sandal to be beautiful.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Indeed, Allah is beautiful and loves beauty.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Meaning, He loves adornment.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And on this basis, we say that wearing new, washed, clean clothes...
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : is among what Allah the Glorious and Exalted loves. So if a person were to leave this and only wear a torn...
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : or dirty garment, seeking to draw near to Allah by doing so, we would say this is a blameworthy wara' (scrupulousness).
The presenter : Good. May Allah bless you, Honorable Shaykh.
The Shaykh : And you.
Source
قناة «فضيلة الشيخ محمد بن صالح العثيمين»، 2657- ما الفرق بين الورع والزهد/سؤال على الهاتف 📞 /ابن عثيمين — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.